Lord Tachibana, in All His Glory

"Good day, Lord Tachibana. This is some silvervine drink. Please enjoy it, meow."

"Good day, Lord Tachibana. This is freshly grilled fish. Please enjoy it, meow."

"Meow, work hard. One day, you'll be able to tame a Mangekyo of the Uchiha Clan just like me and become a cat among cats."

Just as its name suggested, the Ruins' Empty Zone was a place without humans. It belonged to no country or village and was territory under the Ninja Cat Clan.

The big orange cat, with its yellow-and-white fur, had already dressed like a person in a snug red outfit. A circle on the back contained the handsome character "Warrior." Paired with Lord Tachibana's smug feline face, it made the nearby ninja cats both envious and jealous, though they still had to put on respectful airs.

Ever since Uchiha Takeyasu awakened his Mangekyo and became the Young Lord of the Uchiha Clan, Lord Tachibana, who had once been practically invisible, had risen through the ranks of the Ninja Cat Clan like a rocket. In the blink of an eye, she had become the clan's rising star and hottest sensation.

This orange cat had a big belly and short legs; she was pitiful and helpless, with a big mouth, a cowardly streak, and an excess of curiosity. But that didn't matter when she had such a powerful owner.

"We thought Uchiha Takeyasu would die out there soon after being branded a Rogue Ninja. Who knew this fat cat would turn her luck around, meow?"

Watching Lord Tachibana waddle away with a drink in one paw and grilled fish in the other, a few ninja cats who were close friends whispered together in a corner.

"How unlucky. I even mocked her back then, saying that a useless cat like her was following a big loser. Sigh, I hope Lord Tachibana doesn't hold it against me, meow."

"We're all in the same boat. Otherwise, we wouldn't have been assigned to guard duty, meow."

"Some cats are just born luckier than others, meow."

"We'd better find a way to keep sending gifts. Otherwise, our lives as cats are going to be rough, meow."

The ninja cats exchanged glances and decided to have a good talk with the Uchiha they were contracted to. Look at Uchiha Takeyasu—he awakened his Mangekyo at just sixteen! You'd better make us proud, too!

Lord Tachibana, well-fed and broad-minded, hadn't dwelled on what had happened before. As a brave orange cat who looked ahead, she knew that hardships were only little detours in a cat's life.

(I've decided. Tomorrow I'll go to the Tano family. That guy spoke badly about Lord Takeyasu. It definitely has nothing to do with how good their food is.)

Wanting to stand up for her owner, Lord Tachibana flicked her little tail, wiped her glistening mouth, and made her way into the depths of the Ruins' Empty Zone. There, she met Nekomata, the leader of the ninja cats.

A scar crossed Nekomata's ferocious feline face, making Lord Tachibana, who had been so imposing just moments ago, feel a little scared.

"Meow, Clan Head Nekomata, what did you want me for?"

Lord Tachibana obediently sat on the cushion in front of Nekomata. It was her first time in the Clan Head's room.

Feeling curious and ill at ease, Lord Tachibana couldn't help swiveling her lively cat eyes as she looked around the room.

Silvervine, beloved by cats, was everywhere. Even the air smelled sweet and delicious.

(No wonder Clan Head Nekomata knows how to enjoy life.)

"There's good news I need you to pass on to Takeyasu Young Lord, meow."

After exchanging a few pleasantries with Lord Tachibana to ease the little orange cat's unease and nerves, Clan Head Nekomata got straight to the point.

"The Daimyo of the Land of Fire has sent an envoy to Konoha. Among them are the daimyo's heir, Lord Minamoto Kazuhiko, and the most beautiful princess, Lady Minamoto Kaori. The ninja cats stationed there say the daimyo seems to want to marry Princess Minamoto Kaori to Takeyasu Young Lord. He also intends to make Tsunade the princess of the Land of Fire."

Lord Tachibana tilted her head, her whiskers twitching as confusion filled her cat eyes. "Meow-meow, why would a lofty bigwig like the daimyo marry his daughter to Lord Takeyasu?"

"There could be many reasons."

Nekomata poured them each a cup of silvervine drink and took a small sip. A blissful smile appeared on her feline face, and her voice grew a little distant. "But when all is said and done, the daimyo is afraid of the Uchiha."

"Just like you and me right now."

Looking at Lord Tachibana, who seemed to be deep in thought, Nekomata chuckled. "Whether it's between people or between ninja cats, sometimes reality is harsh."

"So, Lord Tachibana, treasure your bond with Takeyasu Young Lord. It's a precious bond that many ninja cats can only dream of—a bond that has lasted from weakness to strength!"

"Clan Head Nekomata, Lord Tachibana understands."

Whether Lord Tachibana truly understood or was only pretending, Nekomata couldn't say. As long as Lord Tachibana kept her nature, though, her relationship with Uchiha Takeyasu wouldn't go sour.

"Then, first thing tomorrow morning..."

Nekomata hadn't finished speaking when Lord Tachibana vanished with a pop. The Clan Head blinked helplessly, reached over to take the untouched silvervine drink, inhaled its scent with a blissful expression, and happily drank it.

"Lord Takeyasu! Wonderful news!"

Ripples of a teleportation technique spread through the air. Uchiha Takeyasu, who had just finished bathing, saw Lord Tachibana bound out of the space ahead of him, her little legs pumping as she meowed excitedly.

Four pink-and-white paws clambered over Uchiha Takeyasu's yukata, and she shot up to his shoulder in a flash. Uchiha Takeyasu reacted quickly, catching Lord Tachibana in one hand.

"Lord Tachibana, how many times have I told you? Don't panic when something happens."

"Meow-meow, Lord Tachibana isn't panicking. I'm just happy for Lord Takeyasu. Lord Takeyasu is going to have a wife, meow!"

"..."

Uchiha Takeyasu stopped just as he was about to cuddle the cat. He stared at Lord Tachibana in surprise, then pinched her feline cheeks. "You lazy glutton with the big mouth, where did you hear this rumor?"

Lord Tachibana's temperament didn't match her steady, hefty build at all, but she wouldn't make things up.

"Clan Head Nekomata told me, meow."

Lord Tachibana gathered her thoughts and relayed Nekomata's words to Uchiha Takeyasu, one detail at a time. When it came to passing on information, Lord Tachibana was a ninja cat he could trust.

During the First Shinobi World War, if Lord Tachibana hadn't brought him timely information on several occasions, Uchiha Takeyasu would have ended up a corpse in the wilderness. He wouldn't be living so freely and at ease now.

"The Minamoto Clan of the Land of Fire."

Uchiha Takeyasu gently stroked Lord Tachibana's soft fur, the corners of his eyes lifting. "Looks like our daimyo of the Land of Fire isn't a complete fool after all."

For royalty and nobles, marriage alliances were the cheapest and most effective way to unite.

By marrying a princess into the Uchiha Clan, the daimyo could raise the clan's political standing while drawing the Uchiha into the Land of Fire's camp with little effort.

If the daimyo had approached an ordinary Uchiha Young Lord with his "sincere" offer, he might have brought out the Uchiha's traditional talent for failing to think things through and willingly allowed himself to be used by the daimyo.

Unfortunately for him, he had run into an ambitious transmigrator. Uchiha Takeyasu's short-term goal was the Third Hokage. If he succeeded in taking the position, his next target would be the entire Land of Fire.

"Lord Tachibana, keep a close eye on the daimyo's envoy. I want Minamoto Kaori, the Land of Fire's precious princess."

His calm voice carried an undeniable authority. A solemn expression appeared on Lord Tachibana's face, and her tail stood straight up. "Lord Takeyasu, Lord Tachibana understands, meow. Leave the intelligence gathering to meow-meow from now on."

"I'm counting on you, Lord Tachibana."

Wherever one was, neither fame nor power should be handed over to another.

How could Uchiha Takeyasu refuse a title that had been offered to him? Once he became the Third Hokage, the Land of Fire would surely unite military and political power!